Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population was 3.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
3.3%
Change on year
up 32.0%
World rank
75th
of 125 countries
All-time high
3.3%
in 2023
All-time low
0.7%
in 2019
Years of data
9
2015–2023

Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2015–2023

1232015201920232015: 1.9 %2016: 2.1 %2017: 1.7 %2018: 1.3 %2019: 0.7 %2020: 1.1 %2021: 1.6 %2022: 2.5 %2023: 3.3 %

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in %.

Analysis

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 3.3% for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in 2023. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 32.0% on the previous year and up 73.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 3.3% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 2019.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 75th of 125 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2015 to 2023.
Year % Change
2015 1.9%
2016 2.1% +10.5%
2017 1.7% -19.0%
2018 1.3% -23.5%
2019 0.7% -46.2%
2020 1.1% +57.1%
2021 1.6% +45.5%
2022 2.5% +56.2%
2023 3.3% +32.0%

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 3.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.9%, 1.7× the median. (42 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 3.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.9%, 1.8× the median. (44 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 1.5% 0.7% 2.1% 5
2020s 2.1% 1.1% 3.3% 4

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 72 Brazil 3.4% compare
  2. 72 Kuwait 3.4% compare
  3. 72 North Macedonia 3.4% compare
  4. 76 Portugal 3.1% compare
  5. 77 Philippines 3.0% compare
  6. 78 Finland 2.9% compare
  7. 78 Mexico 2.9% compare

See the full ranking of 148 places →

More health data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 3.3% in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
What is the highest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 3.3% in 2023.
What is the lowest prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 2019.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 75th out of 125 countries with data for 2023.
Is prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 73.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-severe-food-insecurity-in-the-population-percent/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (%)
Unit
%
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
148 places, 1,295 data points, 2014–2024
Last refreshed

The percentage of people in the population who live in households classified as severely food insecure. A household is classified as severely food insecure when at least one adult in the household has reported to have been exposed, at times during the year, to several of the most severe experiences described in the FIES questions, such as to have been forced to reduce the quantity of the food, to have skipped meals, having gone hungry, or having to go for a whole day without eating because of a lack of money or other resources.